What word best describes India? Give up?
There are the ubiquitous:
Crowds
Horns
Traffic Jams
Traffic Violations
Cows
Bicycles
Auto Rickshaws
And it’s exciting. It is like being on a Disney World ride but it’s live! One cannot embrace the
uniqueness of this society. The people are friendly and respect the rules of the road - of which
there are none. But they yield to another person or situation without causing a disturbance, simply
because they know that others will yield to them the next time.
Isaac awakened me at 8:50 this morning. We went down for breakfast and stopped for a 15 minute
chat with Father Anthony. A friendly person in charge of the mission where I spent the night.
We were treated to breakfast by three of the students. I had puri a form of bread served with a sauce –
very flavourful, bread with jam, and ‘hot’ milk. I declined the sugar that was offered to go into it.
They were puzzled – not going to be the first time.
We took our leave and left around 10:40 to go shopping. Isaac, Isabella and I went
out to the roadway and a gentleman hailed an auto rickshaw. Imagine a rickshaw with a
motorcycle engine. Now, it is important to remember your first experience doing anything.
This will always be difficult to forget. It was exciting. The thing is, there are no traffic lanes
on Indian roads. Sure, they are painted there but one gets the feeling that the painting was
only done to give someone a job. Everyone drives at top speed towards an opening signaling
that others should back away by sounding their horns. Of course, at the last minute,
someone does back off – but you never know who until that moment. I had 4 experiences
like that in the next hour and a half.
We met up with Sebastian on the first trip. We then hailed a second rickshaw and,
by Sebastian squeezing in beside the driver we headed off downtown. We went to a computer
outlet where we picked up a printer. Actually, I knew we were going to have trouble when they
offered a second cup of coffee.
We finally got the printer and headed back to the villa. This time we got an auto rickshaw but
the driver would not let Sebastian ride up front. So the four of us sat in the back along with the
large box containing the printer. We now had 35 minutes to get to the train, and the villa ride
normally takes 25 minutes. We got there in 18 minutes. We ran upstairs and I packed, quickly.
We then ran back down and climbed once more into the rickshaw. However, this time there were
4 of us, a large box, my 2 bags, my notepad case, and Isaac’s case – all in the back seat!!
We headed off to the station. I closed my eyes because I couldn’t watch the carnage that was coming.
It was 12:10. We had only 10 minutes left before the train was to leave; the ride was to take 20 minutes.
We got there in 7. We rushed in and sat down in our seats with only 2 minutes to spare.
The ride to Trichy ( Click for outside link to Trichy ) was uneventful.
We were welcomed in Trichy by a friend of Isaac’s and were led to a car. Apparently the friend was not
the driver. The driver was inside looking for us. They contacted him by cell phone and he finally emerged
from the crowd of people. We then got into the car and headed off downtown. We stopped at a shop
and picked up some baking goods. Enough for a small army. We then received a call informing us of
another friend waiting at the train station wanting to meet me. Back to the station. It was nice being
treated as someone special.
Then we were off to Isaac’s place. The highway traffic is similar to the city traffic except they go
a lot faster. With the horn blazing we blazed down the road, most of the time we were in our own lane.
It was quite common for us to be three abreast with us straddling the centre line.
Motorcycles are very common. We got out and passed a car while three were coming at us.
Unfortunately the last one was a bus with it’s right light burned out. No problem,
e just nipped in at the last moment.
We stopped for a while in Manaparai to pick up some more food and then headed out again.
About ten minutes later, the driver started honking his horn and headed across the highway.
A gate opened and we pulled into the yard of Isaac’s place. There was a crowd of people to welcome me.
I was greeted with a garland of fresh red flowers and many people wanting to have their pictures with me.
What a reception! We then headed in for the food. Now I know why we needed so much.
I was introduced around but could not communicate unfortunately. Three of the orphaned boys
who are staying there came up and greeted me. Then they just stood there and stared at me.
Every body took their leaves but the boys still stood there, two feet away and staring.
After some moments of trying to communicate, I finally took their picture and showed it to them.
Well that broke the ice.